Tramway-clutch.



rammed Apr. 10, 1900.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1899) 2 Sheets-Sheet1 I (No Model.)

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Patented 'Apr; I0,v I900. C. L. CRAWFORD. TBAMWAY CLUTCH.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WIZNESSES Altormy CHIPMAN L. ORAIVFORD, OF KELLOGG, IDAHO.

TRAMWAY-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,221, dated April 10, 1900. Application filed October 5, 1899. Serial No. 732,613. No model.)

To (all whom, it may concerw:

Beitknown that I, OHIPMAN L. CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kellogg, in the county of Shoshone and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTramway-Olutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to aerial cable-tramway clutches of the general type set forth in the United States Letters Patent to Bleichert, No. 433,974, dated August- 12, 1890. In this class of transfer systems I have found that to insure absolute reliability of action at all times it is necessary to have a pair of independently-operating grips or clutches to engage the traction-cable and that the entire device must be unaffected by snow and ice.

My object, therefore, is to provide a tramway-clutch having a pair of independentlyoperating cable-grips of improved construction, combined with novel operating means therefor, whereby the device will be adapted to automatically attach and detach itself from the traction-cable, together with other coacting parts which insure absolute reliability of action under all climatic conditions.

The invention consists of a cable-tramway clutch embodying certain improved features and novel combinations of parts set forth in detail hereinafter and recited in the appended claims. 1

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved clutch. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 0000, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section taken on the line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation with cover removed, and Fig. 5 is a rear elevation.

The casing 1 has its upper part of box-like construction to accommodate the clutches and lifting devices, while its lower part is provided with the usual grooved rollers 2 and 3. At the back of the casing is a hub 4, over which is fitted a swinging hanger 5, from which the ore-bucket is suspended in the ordinary manner, said hanger being held against displacement from the hub by a cap and nut 6. On the casing are two stops 7 and 8, and the hanger is provided with corresponding stops 9 and 10, adapted to engage those on the easing when the hanger swings too far in either direction. Th us while the casing may be tilted to a considerable extent at various times during its transit the ore-bucket suspended from the hanger will always remain in vertical position; but the stops limit the swing before it becomes too great. The casing is divided into two compartments by a vertical partition 11. A cable clutch or grip and a lifting-wedge are located in each compartment. The clutches, which are shown at 12 and 13, have bifurcated lower ends 14 for the passage of the usual cable 15, having lugs or catches 16, and said ends are beveled on a curve at their outer sides 17, so that when struck by a lug on the traction-cable they will rise to permit said lug to pass into the space between the two clutches and become locked therein. Along its outer edge each clutch is cut on an incline at 18, which terminates at its lower end in an abrupt shoulder 19, which is adapted to look under the side of the casing when the clutch is down and prevent it from rising except by the action of the lifting-wedge. The inner edge of each clutch is provided with converging inclines 20 and 21, which do not meet, but are joined by an incut and shoulder 22, which forms an abutment for the shoulder on the wedge after the clutch has been tilted prior to its being lifted. The clutches are provided with inclined slots 23, through which pass bolts 24, which hold the cover 25 in position.

The wedges, which are shown at 26 and 27, have one side straight and adapted to slide against the partition and are provided with a raised guide 28 on one side, which slides in a channel 29 in the inner face of thecover-plate of the casing. This insures the travel of the wedges in the same direct path at all times. A trip-pin 30 projects out from the face of the wedges and through a slot 31 in the cover, being sufficiently long to engage and ride on the raised tripping-track employed at the ends of the system. The wedges have converging inclines 32 and 33 and a shoulder 34, adapted to engage corresponding parts on the clutches. When the device is applied to the cable, the nearest lug on the latter strikes the cable grip or clutch and simultaneously tilts and raises it and passes in between the two clutches, where it remains, because it cannot lift either clutch from the inside. When the tripping device is reached, the pins ride on it and are lifted, thus raising the wedges which first tilt the grips or clutches to disengage their locking-shoulders from the casing and then positively raise said clutches or grips by reason of the interlocking of the shoulders on the wedges and clutches. The lug on the cable can then pass out and the device is freed from the cable.

The independent action of the clutches, both as to their raising and lowering and their locking with the casing, renders the attachment of the device to the cable and its detachment therefrom positive and reliable and insures against any slipping of the cable-lu gs through the clutches, while the housing of the parts prevents any interruption of action by accumulations of snow or ice.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cable-tramway clutch, the combination With independent and separate clutches or grips adapted for independent action, of separate and independent lifters for raising said grips, said lifters being adapted for independent action.

2. In a cable-tramway clutch, the combination with a casing having guides, of independcut and separate clutches or grips adapted for independent action, and separate and independent lifters for raising said grips, said lifters movingin and being guided by the re spective guides and being adapted for independent action.

3. In acable-tram way clutch, the combination with independent clutches or grips for engaging the cable, of independent Wedges adapted to engage said clutches and raise them.

4. In a cable-tramway clutch, the combination with clutches or grips for engaging the cable which have inclined surfaces and a shoulder, of Wedges having similar inclined surfaces and shoulders which are adapted to first tilt the clutches by the coaction of the inclined surfaces and then lift them by the engagement of the shoulders.

5. In a cable-tramway clutch, the combination with a casing, of tilting clutches or grips for engaging the cable which have shoulders adapted to lock against the casing, and lifters adapted to tilt the clutches to disengage them and then to positively engage said clutches and raise them.

6. In a cable-tram way clutch, the combination with a casing, of tilting clutches 0r grips for engaging the cable which have shoulders adapted to lock against the casing,and wedges having shoulders, said wedges being adapted, when moved, to first tilt the clutches by their wedging action and then to have their shoulders engage said clutches and positively raise them.

7. In a cable-tramway clutch, the combination with a casing having guide grooves and slots, of cable clutches or grips and Wedges for operating said clutches which are provided with raised portions sliding in said guide-grooves and have trip-pins movable in the slots.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHIPMAN L. CRAWFORD. lVitnesses:

VIoroR SEWARD, CHARLES O. BRAHAM. 

